WhydidInottrytocalmher？Ihadvainlytriedtocalmher——I
　　whoknewwhohermotherwas，andwhathermotherhadbeen。
　　Atlast，shehadforcedthesenseofmydutyonme。Thesimplestwayofcalmingherwastoputherbackintheplacebymysidethatshehadleft。Itwasuselesstoreasonwithher，itwasimpossibletoanswerher。IhadmyownideaoftheonewayinwhichImightcharmEunicebacktohersweeterself。
　　"LetustalkofPhilip，"Isaid。
　　Thefierceflushonherfacesoftened，theswellingtroubleofherbosombegantosubside，asthatdearly—lovednamepassedmylips！Buttherewassomeinfluenceleftinherwhichresistedme。
　　"No，"shesaid；"wehadbetternottalkofhim。"
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Ihavelostallmycourage。IfyouspeakofPhilip，youwillmakemecry。"
　　Idrewhernearertome。Ifshehadbeenmyownchild，Idon’tthinkIcouldhavefeltforhermoretrulythanIfeltatthatmoment。Ionlylookedather；Ionlysaid：
　　"Cry！"
　　Thelovethatwasinherheartrose，andpoureditstendernessintohereyes。Ihadlongedtoseethetearsthatwouldcomforther。Thetearscame。
　　Therewassilencebetweenusforawhile。Itwaspossibleformetothink。
　　Intheabsenceofphysicalresemblancebetweenparentandchild，isanunfavorableinfluenceexercisedonthetendencytomoralresemblance？Assumingthepossibilityofsucharesultasthis，Eunice（entirelyunlikehermother）must，asIconcluded，havebeenpossessedofqualitiesformedtoresist，aswellasofqualitiesdoomedtoundergo，theinfectionofevil。While，therefore，Iresignedmyselftorecognizetheexistenceofthehereditarymaternaltaint，Ifirmlybelievedinthecounterbalancinginfluencesforgoodwhichhadbeenpartofthegirl’sbirthright。Theyhadbeenderived，perhaps，fromthebetterqualitiesinherfather’snature；theyhadbeencertainlydevelopedbythetendercare，thereligiousvigilance，whichhadguardedtheadoptedchildsolovinglyintheMinister’shousehold；andtheyhadservedtheirpurposeuntiltimebroughtwithitthechange，forwhichthetranquildomesticinfluenceswerenotprepared。Withthegreat，thevitaltransformation，whichmarkstheripeningofthegirlintothewoman’smaturityofthoughtandpassion，anewpowerforGood，strongenoughtoresistthelatentpowerforEvil，sprangintobeing，andshelteredEuniceunderthesupremacyofLove。Loveill—fatedandill—bestowed——butlovethatnoprofanationcouldstain，thatnohereditaryevilcouldconquer——theTrueLovethathadbeen，andwas，andwouldbe，theguardianangelofEunice’slife。
　　IfIamaskedwhetherIhaveventuredtofoundthisopiniononwhatIhaveobservedinoneinstanceonly，IreplythatIhavehadotheropportunitiesofinvestigation，andthatmyconclusionsarederivedfromexperiencewhichreferstomoreinstancesthanone。
　　Nomaninhissensescandoubtthatphysicalqualitiesaretransmittedfromparentstochildren。Butinheritanceofmoralqualitiesislesseasytotrace。Here，theexploringmindfindsitsprogressbesetbyobstacles。ThatthoseobstacleshavebeensometimesovercomeIdonotdeny。Moralresemblanceshavebeentracedbetweenparentsandchildren。While，however，Iadmitthis，Idoubttheconclusionwhichsees，ininheritanceofmoralqualities，apositiveinfluenceexercisedonmoraldestiny。Thereareinherentemotionalforcesinhumanitytowhichtheinheritedinfluencesmustsubmit；theyareessentiallyinfluencesundercontrol——influenceswhichcanbeencounteredandforcedback。
　　Thatwe，whoinhabitthislittleplanet，maybethedoomedcreaturesoffatality，fromthecradletothegrave，Iamnotpreparedtodispute。ButIabsolutelyrefusetobelievethatitisafatalitywithnohigheroriginthancanbefoundinouraccidentalobligationtoourfathersandmothers。
　　Stillabsorbedinthesespeculations，Iwasdisturbedbyatouchonmyarm。
　　Ilookedup。Eunice’seyeswerefixedonashrubbery，atsomelittledistancefromus，whichclosedtheviewofthegardenonthatside。Inoticedthatshewastrembling。NothingtoalarmherwasvisiblethatIcoulddiscover。Iaskedwhatshehadseentostartleher。Shepointedtotheshrubbery。
　　"Lookagain，"shesaid。
　　ThistimeIsawawoman’sdressamongtheshruhs。Thewomanherselfappearedinamomentmore。ItwasHelena。Shecarriedasmallportfolio，andsheapproacheduswithasmile。
　　CHAPTERXLI。
　　THEWHISPERINGVOICE。
　　ILOOKEDatEunice。Shehadrisen，startledbyherfirstsuspicionofthepersonwhowasapproachingusthroughtheshrubbery；butshekeptherplacenearme，onlychangingherpositionsoastoavoidconfrontingHelena。Herquickenedbreathingwasallthattoldmeoftheeffortshewasmakingtopreserveherself—control。
　　Entirelyfreefromunbecomingsignsofhurryandagitation，Helenaopenedherbusinesswithmebymeansofanapology。
　　"Prayexcusemefordisturbingyou。Iamobligedtoleavethehouseononeofmytiresomedomesticerrands。Ifyouwillkindlypermitit，Iwishtoexpress，beforeIgo，myverysincereregretforwhatIwasrudeenoughtosay，whenIlasthadthehonorofseeingyou。MayIhopetobeforgiven？How—do—you—do，Eunice？
　　Haveyouenjoyedyourholidayinthecountry？"
　　Euniceneithermovednoranswered。Havingsomedoubtofwhatmighthappenifthetwogirlsremainedtogether，IproposedtoHelenatoleavethegardenandtoletmehearwhatshehadtosay，inthehouse。
　　"Quiteneedless，"shereplied；"Ishallnotdetainyouformorethanaminute。Pleaselookatthis。"
　　Sheofferedtometheportfoliothatshehadbeencarrying，andpointedtoamorselofpaperattachedtoit，whichcontainedthisinscription：
　　"Philip’sLettersToMe。Private。HelenaGracedieu。"
　　"Ihaveafavortoask，"shesaid，"andaproofofconfidenceinyoutooffer。Willyoubesogoodastolookoverwhatyoufindinmyportfolio？IamunwillingtogiveupthehopesthatIhadfoundedonourinterview，whenIaskedforit。Theletterswill，Iventuretothink，pleadmycausemoreconvincinglythanIwasabletopleaditformyself。Iwishtoforgetwhatpassedbetweenus，tothelastword。Tothelastword，"sherepeatedemphatically——withalookwhichsufficientlyinformedmethatI
　　hadnotbeenbetrayedtoherfatheryet。"Willyouindulgeme？"
　　sheasked，andofferedherportfolioforthesecondtime。
　　Amoreimpudentbargaincouldnotwellhavebeenproposedtome。
　　Iwastoread，andtobefavorablyimpressedby，Mr。PhilipDunboyne’sletters；andMissHelenawastosaynothingofthatunluckyslipofthetongue，relatingtohermother，whichshehaddiscoveredtobeaseriousactofself—betrayal——thankstomyconfusionatthetime。IfIhadnotthoughtofEunice，andofthedesolateandlovelesslifetowhichthepoorgirlwassopatientlyresigned，IshouldhaverefusedtoreadMissGracedieu’slove—letters。
　　But，asthingswere，Iwasinfluencedbythehope（innocentlyencouragedbyEuniceherself）thatPhilipDunboynemightnotbesowhollyunworthyofthesweetgirlwhomhehadinjuredasIhadhithertobeentoohastilydisposedtobelieve。Toactonthisviewwiththepurposeofpromotingareconciliationwasimpossible，unlessIhadthemeansofformingacorrectestimateoftheman’scharacter。ItseemedtomethatIhadfoundthemeans。Afairchanceofputtinghissinceritytoatrustworthytest，wassurelyofferedbytheletters（theconfidentialletters）whichIhadbeenrequestedtoread。TofeelthisasstronglyasIfeltit，broughtmeatoncetoadecision。I
　　consentedtotaketheportfolio——onmyownconditions。
　　"Understand，MissHelena，"Isaid，"thatImakenopromises。I
　　reservemyownopinion，andmyownrightofaction。"
　　"Iamnotafraidofyouropinionsoryouractions，"sheansweredconfidently，"ifyouwillonlyreadtheletters。Inthemeantime，letmerelievemysister，there，ofmypresence。Ihopeyouwillsoonrecover，Eunice，inthecountryair。"
　　Iftheobjectofthewretchwastoexasperatehervictim，shehadcompletelyfailed。Euniceremainedasstillasastatue。Toallappearance，shehadnotevenheardwhathadbeensaidtoher。
　　Helenalookedatme，andtouchedherforeheadwithasignificantsmile。"Sad，isn’tit？"shesaid——andbowed，andwentbrisklyawayonherhouseholderrand。
　　Wewerealoneagain。
　　Still，Eunicenevermoved。Ispoketoher，andproducednoimpression。Beginningtofeelalarmed，Itriedtheeffectoftouchingher。Withawildcry，shestartedintoastateofanimation。Almostatthesamemoment，sheweaklyswayedtoandfroasifthepleasantbreezeinthegardenmovedheratitswill，liketheflowers。Iheldherup，andledhertotheseat。
　　"Thereisnothingtobeafraidof，"Isaid。"Shehasgone。"
　　Eunice’seyesrestedonmeinvacantsurprise。"Howdoyouknow？"
　　sheasked。"Ihearher；butIneverseeher。Doyouseeher？"
　　"Mydearchild！ofwhatpersonareyouspeaking？"
　　Sheanswered："Ofnoperson。IamspeakingofaVoicethatwhispersandtemptsme，whenHelenaisnear。"
　　"Whatvoice，Eunice？"
　　"ThewhisperingVoice。Itsaidtome，’Iamyourmother；’itcalledmeDaughterwhenIfirstheardit。Myfatherspeaksofmymother，theangel。Thatgoodspirithasnevercometomefromthebetterworld。Itisamock—motherwhocomestome——somespiritofevil。Listentothis。Iwasawakeinmybed。InthedarkIheardthemock—motherwhispering，closeatmyear。ShallItellyouhowsheansweredme，whenIlongedforlighttoseeherby，whenI
　　prayedtohertoshowherselftome？Shesaid：’MyfacewashiddenwhenIpassedfromlifetodeath；myfacenomortalcreaturemaysee。’Ihaveneverseenher——howcan_you_haveseenher？ButIheardheragain，justnow。ShewhisperedtomewhenHelenawasstandingthere——whereyouarestanding。Shefreezesthelifeinme。Didshefreezethelifein_you？_Didyouhearhertemptingme？Don’tspeakofit，ifyoudid。Oh，notaword！
　　notaword！"
　　AmanwhohasgovernedaprisonmaysaywithMacbeth，"Ihavesuppedfullwithhorrors。"HardenedasIwas——oroughttohavebeen——theeffectofwhatIhadjustheardturnedmecold。IfI
　　hadnotknownittobeabsolutelyimpossible，ImighthavebelievedthatthecrimeandthedeathofthemurderesswereknowntoEunice，asbeingthecrimeandthedeathofhermother，andthatthehorriddiscoveryhadturnedherbrain。Thiswassimplyimpossible。Whatdiditmean？GoodGod！whatdiditmean？
　　Mysenseofmyownhelplessnesswasthefirstsenseinmethatrecovered。IthoughtofEunice’sdevotedlittlefriend。Awoman’ssympathyseemedtobeneedednow。Irosetoleadthewayoutofthegarden。
　　"Selinawillthinkwearelost，"Isaid。"LetusgoandfindSelina。"
　　"Notfortheworld，"shecried。
　　"Whynot？"
　　"BecauseIdon’tfeelsureofmyself。ImighttellSelinasomethingwhichshemustneverknow；Ishouldbesosorrytofrightenher。Letmestopherewithyou。"
　　Iresumedmyplaceatherside。
　　"Letmetakeyourhand。"
　　Igavehermyhand。Whatcomposinginfluencethissimpleactmay，ormaynot，haveexercised，itisimpossibletosay。Shewasquiet，shewassilent。Afteraninterval，Iheardherbreathealong—drawnsighofrelief。
　　"IamafraidIhavesurprisedyou，"shesaid。"Helenabringsthedreadfultimebacktome——"Shestoppedandshuddered。
　　"Don’tspeakofHelena，mydear。"
　　"ButIamafraidyouwillthink——becauseIhavesaidstrangethings——thatIhavebeentalkingatrandom，"sheinsisted。"Thedoctorwillsaythat，ifyoumeetwithhim。HebelievesIamdeludedbyadream。Itriedtothinksomyself。Itwasofnouse；
　　Iamquitesureheiswrong。"
　　Iprivatelydeterminedtowatchforthedoctor’sarrival，andtoconsultwithhim。Eunicewenton：
　　"Ihavethestoryofaterriblenighttotellyou；butIhaven’tthecouragetotellitnow。Whyshouldn’tyoucomebackwithmetotheplacethatIamstayingat？Apleasantfarm—house，andsuchkindpeople。Youmightreadtheaccountofthatnightinmyjournal。Ishallnotregretthemiseryofhavingwrittenit，ifithelpsyoutofindouthowthishatefulsecondselfofminehascometome。Hush！Iwanttoaskyousomething。DoyouthinkHelenaisinthehouse？"
　　"No——shehasgoneout。"
　　"Didshesaythatherself？Areyousure？"
　　"Quitesure。"
　　Shedecidedongoingbacktothefarm，whileHelenawasoutoftheway。Weleftthegardentogether。Forthefirsttime，mycompanionnoticedtheportfolio。Ihappenedtobecarryingitinthehandthatwasnearesttoher，asshewalkedbymyside。
　　"Wheredidyougetthat？"sheasked。
　　Itwasneedlesstoreplyinwords。Myhesitationspokeforme。
　　"Carryitinyourotherhand，"shesaid——"thehandthat’sfurthestawayfromme。Idon’twanttoseeit！DoyoumindwaitingamomentwhileIfindSelina？Youwillgotothefarmwithus，won’tyou？"
　　Ihadtolookovertheletters，inEunice’sowninterests；andI
　　beggedhertoletmedefermyvisittothefarmuntilthenextday。Sheconsented，aftermakingmepromisetokeepmyappointment。Itwasofsomeimportancetoher，shetoldme，thatIshouldmakeacquaintancewiththefarmerandhiswifeandchildren，andtellherhowIlikedthem。Herplansforthefuturedependedonwhatthosegoodpeoplemightbewillingtodo。Whenshehadrecoveredherhealth，itwasimpossibleforhertogohomeagainwhileHelenaremainedinthehouse。Shehadresolvedtoearnherownliving，ifshecouldgetemploymentasagoverness。Thefarmer’schildrenlikedher；shehadalreadyhelpedtheirmotherinteachingthem；andtherewasreasontohopethattheirfatherwouldseehiswaytoemployingherpermanently。HishouseofferedthegreatadvantageofbeingnearenoughtothetowntoenablehertohearnewsoftheMinister’sprogresstowardrecovery，andtoseehimherselfwhensafeopportunitiesoffered，fromtimetotime。Asforhersalary，whatdidshecareaboutmoney？Anythingwouldbeacceptable，ifthegoodmanwouldonlyrealizeherhopesforthefuture。
　　Itwasdishearteningtohearthathope，atherage，beganandendedwithinsuchnarrowlimitsasthese。Noprudentmanwouldhavetriedtopersuadeher，asInowdid，thattheideaofreconciliationofferedthebetterhopeofthetwo。
　　"SupposeIseeMr。PhilipDunboynewhenIgobacktoLondon，"I
　　began，"whatshallIsaytohim？"
　　"SayIhaveforgivenhim。"
　　"Andsuppose，"Iwenton，"thattheblamereallyrests，whereyouallbelieveittorest，withHelena。Ifthatyoungmanreturnstoyou，trulyashamedofhimself，trulypenitent，willyou——？"
　　Sheresolutelyinterruptedme："No！"
　　"Oh，Eunice，yousurelymeanYes？"
　　"ImeanNo！"
　　"Why？"
　　"Don’taskme！Good—bytillto—morrow。"
　　CHAPTERXLII。
　　THEQUAINTPHILOSOPHER。
　　Nopersoncametomyroom，andnothinghappenedtointerruptmewhileIwasreadingMr。PhilipDunboyne’sletters。
　　Oneofthem，letmesayatonce，producedaverydisagreeableimpressiononme。IhaveunexpectedlydiscoveredMrs。
　　Tenbruggen——inapostscript。SheismakingalivingasaMedicalRubber（orMasseuse），andisinprofessionalattendanceonMr。
　　Dunboynetheelder。Moreofthis，alittlefurtheron。
　　HavinggonethroughthewholecollectionofyoungDunboyne’sletters，Isetmyselftoreviewthedifferingconclusionswhichthecorrespondencehadproducedonmymind。
　　Icallthepaperssubmittedtomeacorrespondence，becausethegreaterpartofPhilip’slettersexhibitnotesinpencil，evidentlyaddedbyHelena。Theseexpress，forthemostpart，theinterpretationwhichshehadplacedonpassagesthatperplexedordispleasedher；andtheyhave，asPhilip’srejoindersshow，beenemployedasmaterialswhenshewroteherreplies。
　　Onreflection，Ifindmyselftroubledbycomplexitiesandcontradictionsintheviewpresentedofthisyoungman’scharacter。TodecidepositivelywhetherIcanjustifytomyselfandtomyregardforEunice，anattempttoreunitethelovers，requiresmoretimeforconsiderationthanIcanreasonablyexpectthatHelena’spatiencewillallow。Havingaquiethourortwostillbeforeme，Ihavedeterminedtomakeextractsfromthelettersformyownuse；withtheintentionofreferringtothemwhileIamstillindoubtwhichwaymydecisionoughttoincline。
　　Ishallpresentthemhere，tospeakforthemselves。Isthereanyobjectiontothis？NonethatIcansee。
　　Inthefirstplace，thoseextractshaveavalueoftheirown。
　　Theyaddnecessaryinformationtothepresenthistoryofevents。
　　Inthesecondplace，IamundernoobligationtoMr。Gracedieu’sdaughterwhichforbidsmetomakeuseofherportfolio。ItoldherthatIonlyconsentedtoreceiveit，underreserveofmyownrightofaction——andherassenttothatstipulationwasexpressedintheclearestterms。
　　EXTRACTSFROMMR。PHILIPDUNBOYNE’SLETTERS。
　　FirstExtract。
　　Youblameme，dearHelena，fornothavingpaidproperattentiontothequestionsputtomeinyourlastletter。Ihaveonlybeenwaitingtomakeupmymind，beforeIreplied。
　　Firstquestion：DoIthinkitadvisablethatyoushouldwritetomyfather？No，mydear；Ibegyouwilldeferwriting，untilyouhearfrommeagain。
　　Secondquestion：Consideringthatheisstillastrangertoyou，isthereanyharminyouraskingmewhatsortofmanmyfatheris？Noharm，mysweetone；but，asyouwillpresentlysee，Iamafraidyouhaveaddressedyourselftothewrongperson。
　　Myfatheriskind，inhisownoddway——andlearned，andrich——amorehigh—mindedandhonorableman（asIhaveeveryreasontobelieve）doesn’tlive。Butifyouaskmewhichheprefers，hisbooksorhisson，IhopeIdohimnoinjusticewhenIanswer，hisbooks。HisreadingandhiswritingareobstaclesbetweenuswhichIhaveneverbeenabletoovercome。Thisisthemoretoberegrettedbecauseheischarming，onthefewoccasionswhenI
　　findhimdisengaged。IfyouwishIknewmoreaboutmyfather，weareincompleteagreementasusual——Iwish，too。
　　Butthereisadearfriendofyoursandmine，whoisjustthepersonwewanttohelpus。NeedIsaythatIalludetoMrs。
　　Staveley？
　　Icalledonheryesterday，notlongaftershehadpaidavisittomyfather。Luckhadfavoredher。Shearrivedjustatthetimewhenhungerhadobligedhimtoshutuphisbooks，andringforsomethingtoeat。Mrs。Staveleysecuredafavorablereceptionwithhercustomarytactanddelicacy。Hehadafowlforhisdinner。Sheknowshisweaknessofold；shevolunteeredtocarveitforhim。
　　IfIcanonlyrepeatwhatthiscleverwomantoldmeoftheirtalk，youwillhaveaportraitofMr。Dunboynetheelder——notperhapsahighly—finishedpicture，but，asIhopeandbelieve，agoodlikeness。
　　Mrs。Staveleybeganbycomplainingtohimoftheconductofhisson。Ihadpromisedtowritetoher，andIhadneverkeptmyword。Shehadreasonsforbeingespeciallyinterestedinmyplansandprospects，justthen；knowingmetobeattached（pleasetakenoticethatIamquotingherownlanguage）toacharmingfriendofhers，whomIhadfirstmetatherhouse。ToaggravatethedisappointmentthatIhadinflicted，theyoungladyhadneglectedher，too。Noletters，noinformation。Perhapsmyfatherwouldkindlyenlightenher？Wastheaffairgoingon？orwasitbrokenoff？
　　Myfatherheldouthisplateandaskedfortheotherwingofthefowl。"Itisn’tabadoneforLondon，"hesaid；"won’tyouhavesomeyourself？"
　　"Idon’tseemtohaveinterestedyou，"Mrs。Staveleyremarked。
　　"Whatdidyouexpectmetobeinterestedin？"myfatherinquired。
　　"Iwasabsorbedinthefowl。Favormebyreturningtothesubject。"
　　Mrs。Staveleyadmitsthatsheansweredthisrathersharply："Thesubject，sir，wasyourson’sadmirationforacharminggirl：oneofthedaughtersofMr。Gracedieu，thefamouspreacher。"
　　Myfatheristoowell—bredtospeaktoaladywhilehisattentionisabsorbedbyafowl。Hefinishedthesecondwing，andthenheaskedif"Philipwasengagedtobemarried。"
　　"Iamnotquitesure，"Mrs。Staveleyconfessed。
　　"Then，mydearfriend，wewillwaittillwe_are_sure。"
　　"But，Mr。Dunboyne，thereisreallynoneedtowait。Isupposeyoursoncomeshere，nowandthen，toseeyou？"
　　"Mysonismostattentive。Incourseoftimehewillcontrivetohitontherighthourforhisvisit。Atpresent，poorfellow，heinterruptsmeeveryday。"
　　"Supposehehitsupontherighttimeto—morrow？"
　　"Yes？"
　　"Youmightaskhimifheisengaged？"
　　"Pardonme。IthinkImightwaittillPhilipmentionsitwithoutasking。"
　　"Whatanextraordinarymanyouare！"
　　"Oh，no，no——onlyaphilosopher。"
　　ThistriedMrs。Staveley’stemper。Youknowwhataperfectlycandidpersonourfriendis。Sheownedtomethatshefeltinclinedtomakeherselfdisagreeable。"That’sthrownawayuponme，"shesaid："Idon’tknowwhataphilosopheris。"
　　Letmepauseforamoment，dearHelena。Ihaveinexcusablyforgottentospeakofmyfather’spersonalappearance。Itwon’ttakelong。Ineedonlynoticeoneinterestingfeaturewhich，sotospeak，liftshisfaceoutofthecommon。Hehasaneloquentnose。Personspossessingthisrareadvantageareblestwithpowersofexpressionnotgrantedtotheirordinaryfellow—creatures。Myfather’snoseisamineofinformationtofriendsfamiliarlyacquaintedwithit。Itchangescolorlikeamodestyounglady’scheek。Itworksflexiblyfromsidetosideliketherudderofaship。Onthepresentoccasion，Mrs。Staveleysawitshifttowardtheleft—handsideofhisface。Asighescapedthepoorlady。Experiencetoldherthatmyfatherwasgoingtoholdforth。
　　"Youdon’tknowwhataphilosopheris！"herepeated。"BesokindastolookatMe。Iamaphilosopher。"
　　Mrs。Staveleybowed。
　　"Andaphilosopher，mycharmingfriend，isamanwhohasdiscoveredasystemoflife。Somesystemsassertthemselvesinvolumes——mysystemassertsitselfintwowords：Neverthinkofanythinguntilyouhavefirstaskedyourselfifthereisanabsolutenecessityfordoingit，atthatparticularmoment。
　　Thinkingofthings，whenthingsneedn’tbethoughtof，isofferinganopportunitytoWorry；andWorryisthefavoriteagentofDeathwhenthedestroyerhandleshisworkinalingeringway，andachievesprematureresults。Neverlookback，andneverlookforward，aslongasyoucanpossiblyhelpit。Lookingbackleadsthewaytosorrow。Andlookingforwardendsinthecruelestofalldelusions：itencourageshope。Thepresenttimeistheprecioustime。Liveforthepassingday：thepassingdayisallthatwecanbesureof。Yousuggested，justnow，thatIshouldaskmysonifhewasengagedtobemarried。HowdoweknowwhatwearandtearofyournervoustextureIsucceededinsavingwhenIsaid。’WaittillPhilipmentionsitwithoutasking？’Thereisthepersonalapplicationofmysystem。Ihaveexplaineditinmytimetoeverywomanonthelistofmyacquaintance，includingthefemaleservants。Notoneofthemhasrewardedmebyadoptingmysystem。Howdoyoufeelaboutit？"
　　Mrs。Staveleydeclinedtotellmewhethershehadofferedabrightexampleofgratitudetotherestofthesex。WhenIaskedwhy，shedeclaredthatitwasmyturnnowtotellherwhatIhadbeendoing。
　　Youwillanticipatewhatfollowed。Sheobjectedtothemysteryinwhichmyprospectsseemedtobeinvolved。InplainEnglish，wasI，orwasInot，engagedtomarryherdearEunice？Isaid，No。
　　WhatelsecouldIsay？IfIhadtoldMrs。Staveleythetruth，whensheinsistedonmyexplainingmyself，shewouldhavegonebacktomyfather，andwouldhaveappealedtohissenseofjusticetoforbidourmarriage。Findingmeobstinatelysilent，shehasdecidedonwritingtoEunice。Soweparted。Butdon’tbedisheartened。Onmywayoutofthehouse，ImetMr。Staveleycomingin，andhadalittletalkwithhim。Heandhiswifeandhisfamilyaregoingtotheseaside，nextweek。Mrs。Staveleyonceoutofourway，Icantellmyfatherofourengagementwithoutanyfearofconsequences。Ifshewritestohim，themomentheseesmynamementioned，andfindsviolentlanguageassociatedwithit，hewillhandthelettertome。"Yourbusiness，Philip：don’tinterruptme。"Hewillsaythat，andgobacktohisbooks。Thereismyfather，paintedtothelife！
　　Farewell，forthepresent。
　　RemarksbyH。G。——Philip’sgraceandgayetyofstylemightbeenviedbyanyprofessionalAuthor。Heamusesme，butherousesmysuspicionatthesametime。Thisslipperyloverofminetellsmetodeferwritingtohisfather，andgivesnoreasonforofferingthatstrangeadvicetotheyoungladywhoissoontobeamemberofthefamily。Isthismerelyonemoreinstanceoftheweaknessofhischaracter？Or，nowthatheisawayfrommyinfluence，ishebeginningtoregretEunicealready？
　　AddedbytheGovernor。——Itoohavemydoubts。IstheflippantnonsensewhichPhiliphaswritteninspiredbytheeffervescentgoodspiritsofahappyyoungman？Orisitassumedforapurpose？Inthislattercase，IshouldgladlyconcludethathewasregardinghisconducttoEunicewithbecomingemotionsofsorrowandshame。